Vestas fights US patent claim

Vestas is to challenge a patent complaint filed by GE in the US against Vestas American Wind Technology.

The Danish manufacturer said in a press release issued on 2 August that it has only just received the complaint and has not been able to study it in detail.

“However, based on our initial assessment, we strongly believe that the complaint is without merit and intend to challenge it,” Vestas said.

It added that the company will not be commenting further on the issue at this time.

GE confirmed that it has filed a patent infringement complaint against Vestas in the US.

The US company said the complaint is related to the “patented zero voltage ride through technology system”.

The system allows wind turbines to remain connected to the electricity grid when voltage drops to zero, it said.

A spokeswoman for GE said: “It is GE’s view that the protection of intellectual property rights is the foundation for driving both innovation and investment in high technology industries generally, and the associated creation of high value jobs.”